A Tory MP has been rebuked for using a “crass racial slur” about Japanese people during a House of Commons debate.
Mark Francois complained “the J***” could build a ship in four years that defence giant BAE systems would take 11 years to finish.
The remark on Monday was not picked up at the time by Commons Speaker Lindsay Hoyle or Defence Secretary Ben Wallace.
But Mr Hoyle intervened today to urge MPs to mind their language after an intervention from an MP.
Labour ’s Sarah Owen, the first MP of south-east Asian descent, made a passionate speech urging MPs to stop the “unacceptable undercurrent of othering”.
She said: “Unfortunately this outdated and crass racial slur has fallen well below the bar we should expect.”
But Mr Francois doubled down tonight, saying: “I meant absolutely no disrespect or offence to anyone by using the phrase ‘J***’, during Defence Questions in the House of Commons yesterday.
"I merely used it as an abbreviation for Japanese, as I had, by then, been asking an admittedly rather wordy question, about naval shipbuilding.
"Moreover, in the course of that same question, as the record clearly shows, I actually complimented the Japanese shipbuilding industry, for building warships much faster than here in Britain.”
Ms Owen referred back to Tory minister Mark Spencer, who last week joked “some little man in China” might be eavesdropping on phone calls with his wife.
She also highlighted Jacob Rees-Mogg, who apologised last year for using the phrase “yellow peril” to talk about the Lib Dems.
Ms Owen said: “At the weekend we saw an article in the Times asking why there are only two MPs who identify as east and south east Asian, despite making up 1.2million of the country.
“Perhaps it is comments like this by [Mark Francois], or the ‘little man in China’ trope trotted out by a government minister last week.
“Or when the former Leader of the House said the words ‘yellow peril’ from that despatch box.
“An unacceptable undercurrent of othering which is rightly called out for other protected characteristics and ethnicities, but not yet for ours.”
Mr Hoyle replied: “I recognise that the casual use of racial terms causes upset and should not be used.”
While not demanding Mr Francois withdrew his words, he said MPs must “choose the words they use carefully” and “If we set the best of language, therefore others might follow”.
Mr Francois had complained the Type 26 frigate had been delayed from entering service by another year to October 2028, and risen in budget by £250m.
He said: “Given the defence budget is likely to come under great pressure, why does it take BAE Systems 11 years to build a ship the J*** can build in four?”
Naomi Smith of campaign group Best for Britain told The Independent: “Mark Francois may like to pretend he’s fighting WW2.
“But there is no excuse for this - or the failure of the Defence Secretary to call him out for it.
“The people of the UK can now see through this tired act of xenophobia dressed up as faux patriotism which has done nothing except heap economic pain on our country and emboldened some of the most vile elements in our society.”
A Labour source said: "If there was ever any doubt, the nasty party is firmly back.”
They added: “Mark Francois may need reminding that it is 2022, not 1940. He should apologise for this language."
